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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
their brethren in affliction to be wronged. These are the very ones
that should awaken the sympathy of all hearts and call into exercise
noble, benevolent feelings from all the followers of Christ. The true
disciples of Christ will work in harmony with Him and, following
His example will help those who need help. Brother E’s blindness is
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a terrible affliction, and all should seek to be eyes for the blind and
thus make him feel his loss as little as possible. There are some who
improve their eyes by watching opportunities to work for their own
advantage to get gain, but God may bring confusion upon them in a
manner they do not expect.
If God in His mercy has given the blind man inventive faculties that
he can use for his own good, God forbid that anyone should grudge
him this privilege and rob him of the benefits he might derive from
God’s gift to him. The blind man has disadvantages to meet on every
side in the loss of his sight. That heart in which pity and sympathy are
not excited at seeing a blind man groping his way in a world clothed
to him in darkness, is hard indeed and must be softened by the grace
of God. Not a face can the blind man look upon and there read kindly
sympathy and true benevolence. He cannot look upon the beauties
of nature and trace the finger of God in His created works. Their
cheering gladness does not speak to him to comfort and to bless when
despondency broods over him. How quickly would he exchange his
blindness and every temporal blessing for the blessing of sight. But he
is shut up to a world of darkness, and his God-given rights have been
trampled upon that others might get gain.
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